Hisaya Morishige
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
actor and comedian
. Born in Hirakata
, Osaka Prefecture
, he graduated from what was known under the old education system as Kitano Middle School (now Kitano High School
), and subsequently attended Waseda University
. He began his career as a stage actor, then became an announcer for NHK
, working in Manchuria
. He became famous in films first for comedy roles, appearing in many of the famous comedy series, such as the "Company President" (Shacho) and "Station Front" (Ekimae) series, produced by Toho
. But he also showed his talents in many serious roles as well, appearing in nearly 250 films in his life, in both contemporary (gendaigeki
) and jidaigeki
roles. He was also famous on stage playing Teyve in the Japanese version of Fiddler on the Roof
. He also appeared in television series and specials, and was the first guest on the television talk show Tetsuko's Room in 1975, beginning its ongoing (as of 2006) 31-year run. He was long-time head of the Japan Actors Union. Among many honors, Morishige received the Order of Culture
from the Emperor of Japan
in 1991.
Hisaya Morishige died of natural causes at a hospital in Tokyo
at 8:16 A.M. on November 10, 2009, at the age of 96.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actor and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. Born in Hirakata
Hirakata, Osaka
is a city located in north-eastern Osaka, Japan, near the prefectural borders of Nara and Kyoto. It is renowned for its chrysanthemum doll exhibition, as well as Hirakata Park — an amusement park featuring five roller coasters....
, Osaka Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...
, he graduated from what was known under the old education system as Kitano Middle School (now Kitano High School
Kitano High School (Osaka Prefecture)
Osaka Prefectural Kitano High School is a secondary school in Osaka, Japan founded in 1873.It moved to its current location in Yodogawa Ward in 1931. The school is operated by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education...
), and subsequently attended Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
. He began his career as a stage actor, then became an announcer for NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, working in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. He became famous in films first for comedy roles, appearing in many of the famous comedy series, such as the "Company President" (Shacho) and "Station Front" (Ekimae) series, produced by Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
. But he also showed his talents in many serious roles as well, appearing in nearly 250 films in his life, in both contemporary (gendaigeki
Gendaigeki
Gendai-geki is a genre of film and television or theater play in Japan. Unlike the jidai-geki genre of period dramas, whose stories are set in the Edo period, gendaigeki stories are contemporary dramas set in the modern world.-See also:...
) and jidaigeki
Jidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
roles. He was also famous on stage playing Teyve in the Japanese version of Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
. He also appeared in television series and specials, and was the first guest on the television talk show Tetsuko's Room in 1975, beginning its ongoing (as of 2006) 31-year run. He was long-time head of the Japan Actors Union. Among many honors, Morishige received the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
from the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
in 1991.
Hisaya Morishige died of natural causes at a hospital in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
at 8:16 A.M. on November 10, 2009, at the age of 96.
Filmography
- Keisatsu nikkiKeisatsu nikkiis a 1955 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Seiji Hisamatsu.- Cast :* Hisaya Morishige* Rentaro Mikuni as policeman Hakanawa* Terumi Niki as Yukiko...
(警察日記) (1955) - Meoto zenzaiMeoto zenzaiis a 1955 black-and-white Japanese film drama directed by Shirō Toyoda. It is an adaptation of the 1939 novel of the same name by Sakunosuke Oda.- Cast :* Hisaya Morishige* Chikage Awashima* Youko Tsukasa* Chieko Naniwa* Haruo Tanaka* and others...
(夫婦善哉) (1955) - Romantic DaughtersRomantic Daughtersis a 1956 color Japanese film directed by Toshio Sugie. It is romance comedy film.Production designer was Shinobu Muraki, sound recordist was Shoichi Fujinawa and lighting technician was Mitsuo Kaneko.- Cast :* Hibari Misora* Chiemi Eri* Izumi Yukimura...
(ロマンス娘 Romansu musume) (1956) - Snow CountrySnow Country (film)Snow Country is a 1957 black-and-white drama Japanese film directed by Shirō Toyoda based on the novel Snow Country written by the Nobel Prize winning author Kawabata Yasunari between 1937 and 1941. The film was entered into the 1958 Cannes Film Festival...
(雪国 Yukiguni) (1957) - The End of SummerThe End of Summeris a 1961 film directed by Yasujirō Ozu. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival. The film was his penultimate film; only An Autumn Afternoon followed it....
(小早川家の秋 Kohayagawa-ke no aki) (1961) - The SwordKen (film)is a 1964 Japanese film directed by Kenji Misumi. From a screenplay by Kazuro Funabashi, based upon the short story Ken by Yukio Mishima.-Synopsis:...
(剣 Ken) (1964) - Sayonara Jupiter (film)Sayonara Jupiter (film)is a 1984 Japanese science fiction film directed by Koji Hashimoto and produced by Toho. The script was adapted by pioneering science-fiction author Sakyo Komatsu from his novel Sayonara Jupiter...
(さよならジュピター Sayonara Jupitā) (1984)
Animation
- The Tale of the White SerpentThe Tale of the White Serpentis the first color anime feature film, released in 1958. It was also the first to be released in America, under the title Panda and the Magic Serpent, preceding Magic Boy by three months...
(1958) - When the Wind Blows (1987, Jim)
- Princess MononokePrincess Mononokeis a 1997 epic Japanese animated historical fantasy feature film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. is not a name, but a general term in the Japanese language for a spirit or monster...
(1997, Okkotonushi) - HerculesHercules (1997 film)Hercules is a 1997 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fifth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker...
(1997, Opening narrator) - Doraemon: Nobita to Tsubasa no Yūshatachi (2001, Doctor Kami Torino)